TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring the quality of renal care: things to keep in mind when selecting and using quality indicators
AU - van der Veer, Sabine N.
AU - van Biesen, Wim
AU - Couchoud, Cécile
AU - Tomson, Charles R. V.
AU - Jager, Kitty J.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - This educational paper discusses a variety of indicators that can be used to measure the quality of care in renal medicine. Based on what aspect of care they reflect, indicators can be grouped into four main categories: structure, process, surrogate outcome and outcome indicators. Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages, and we give some pointers on how to balance these pros and cons while taking into account the aim of the measurement initiative. Especially within initiatives that link payment or reputation to indicator measurement, this balancing should be done with utmost care to avoid potential, unintended consequences. Furthermore, we suggest consideration of (i) a causal chain-i.e. subsequent aspects of care connected by evidence-based links-as a starting point for composing a performance indicator set and (ii) adequate case-mix adjustment, not only of (surrogate) outcomes, but also of process indicators in order to obtain fair comparisons between facilities and within facilities over time
AB - This educational paper discusses a variety of indicators that can be used to measure the quality of care in renal medicine. Based on what aspect of care they reflect, indicators can be grouped into four main categories: structure, process, surrogate outcome and outcome indicators. Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages, and we give some pointers on how to balance these pros and cons while taking into account the aim of the measurement initiative. Especially within initiatives that link payment or reputation to indicator measurement, this balancing should be done with utmost care to avoid potential, unintended consequences. Furthermore, we suggest consideration of (i) a causal chain-i.e. subsequent aspects of care connected by evidence-based links-as a starting point for composing a performance indicator set and (ii) adequate case-mix adjustment, not only of (surrogate) outcomes, but also of process indicators in order to obtain fair comparisons between facilities and within facilities over time
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gft473
DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gft473
M3 - Article
C2 - 24286978
SN - 0931-0509
VL - 29
SP - 1460
EP - 1467
JO - Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation
JF - Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation
IS - 8
ER -